As you may already know Sierra Mist was a well-loved name among the lemon-lime soda ones, but PepsiCo changed it with a new drink “Starry” starting in 2023. And for sure, the same year saw a TikTok creator named Cierra Mistt who claimed controversy arose because PepsiCo acted against her legally just because her name sounded very similar to Sierra Mist. Like, the fact that PepsiCo was mute shut down the issue but at the same time it made her story a hit which was sprung with curiosity and debates on the fact of what in reality had happened. So, let’s just go over this Sierra Mist Lawsuit, and see what is really going on, shall we?
Pepsi’s Struggle to Compete with Sprite
Like, since the beginning of the 1990s, PepsiCo has been attempting to acquire a share of the lemon-lime soda market to take on Coca-Cola’s Sprite head-on, did you know that? You see, Pepsi went through different flavors and varieties, from Teem and Slice to Sierra Mist, to try and see if any were successful, but none were. Then, back in 1999, a new drink called Sierra Mist was brought to the market, seeing a new flavor of a similar drink, Pepsi, that is smoother than Sprite. Pepsi used this commercial to give Sierra Mist an updated, crisp, refreshing look and also aided by the use of ice-covered polar landscapes in their commercials heavily in the masses.
And for sure, Sprite, mainly because of this strong connection between its target group hip-hop and basketball brands, remained the undisputed leader. Then, by the end of 2023, Walmart stores had become free of Sierra Mist sales, and in its place, Starry was introduced to the public as a new, Gen Z-oriented alternative.
The Cierra Mistt Legal Drama
You see after its discontinuation by PepsiCo, TikTok influencer Cierra Mistt alleged that the company attempted to sue her because her name was too similar. Like, she claimed that attorneys for PepsiCo had sent her a cease-and-desist letter showing that they were asking her to stop using her name in public, as that could have resulted in confusion about their brands. Though, Cierra, through the help of her lawyer, made the point that they found out that PepsiCo never owned the “Sierra Mist” trademark and that was the main reason she completely rejected the idea of changing her name, and that was kinda the main concern in this lawsuit.
People were really interested in her story, and a lively debate went on among the users on social media about whether Pepsi actually had some rights to her name. Cierra implied that she was the one who “won” the argument, but she could not provide any details due to her being bound by “legal reasons.” Later down the line though, the silence from PepsiCo, regarding this issue, just added more to the audience’s curiosity, which further fueled speculation.
PepsiCo’s Silence and Starry’s Launch
We can admit that PepsiCo does not respond publicly could be a part of the marketing strategy. Let the controversy be on the buzz they allowed staying silent. In some way, the launch of Starry also showcases the first marketing method of Sprite ads that included many icons from Gen Z such as rapper Ice Spice, and partnerships with the NBA, aimed at building the youth either on social media or other platforms.
And sure, the silence of PepsiCo is like a Sword with two edges, why’s that though? Well, by not addressing Cierra Mistt’s claims, they allow the interpretation to be free and thus the brand image of Starry can be impacted. But keep in mind though, the discussion that is brought up on the internet could be leveraged by Pepsi to keep their product on the front pages longer than any other advertising commodity can.
